The number of alcohol related incidents for the year prior the initiation of the BAI will be compared to the number of alcohol related incidents when Airmen were exposed to the BAI

Behavioral: Group Brief Alcohol Intervention

Intervention includes identifying reasons for joining the military, roadblocks to successful completion of training, information about alcohol, two anonymous self-assessments, information on quantity-based alcohol consumption in order to reduce the risk of incidents.

Detailed Description:

As a part of Air Force Technical Training orientation week, all Airmen attending Technical Training at Lackland AFB, TX are given a brief group alcohol intervention (BAI) designed to reduce the number of alcohol related incidents during attendance at technical training.

The BAI was designed and approved by the sponsor as a Quid Pro Quo for having time in technical to conduct a tobacco use Cohort study. The intervention was designed to take advantage of the 8.5 weeks of forced alcohol use cessation during Basic Military Training.

Because the BAI was considered a part of Technical Training Orientation Airmen were not consented for the BAI and no personally identifying information was collected. The Airmen were however consented for participation in the Tobacco Cohort study.

Significance: Too many Airmen who have successfully completed Basic Military Training have an alcohol related incidents during Technical Training which can result in administrative separation from the Air Force. These incidents are avoidable. Approximately 12,000 Airmen attend Technical Training in San Antonio each year and the costs associated with early discharge are not trivial. Additionally, new Airmen become extremely distressed when they are sent home, after completing 8.5 weeks of Basic Military Training, due to an alcohol related incident.

The BAI capitalizes on entry into Technical Training as a potential teachable moment for new Airmen. It is a time when both Airmen and Technical Training staff are highly motivated to graduate every qualified Airman possible.

The BAI is an interactive group intervention. The intervention is conducted as a briefing and given to approximately 50 Airmen per session and lasts approximately 45 minutes. The content includes helping Airmen clearly identify their reasons for joining the Air Force as well as possible roadblocks to successful completion of technical training. The intervention includes basic information about alcohol for those Airmen who chose to drink, two anonymous self assessments, and information about how to consume alcohol in smaller time-based quantities to decrease the risk of an alcohol related incident.

The study will compare the prevalence of alcohol related incidents for the 10,953 Airmen who attended technical training during the 12-month time period prior to the initiation of the BAI to the prevalence of alcohol related incidents for the 15,000 Airmen who will receive the BAI during the course of this investigation.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Airmen entering technical training in San Antonio Texas

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01398319